Bottle transporting box



7 April! 39, 1935, J. A. HOPWOOD 1,999,539

BOTTLE TRANSPORTING BOX Filed Aug. 24, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. John 4. Hopwaaa ATTORNEY.

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April 3Q,ll935.. J. A. HOPWOOD A BOTTLE TRAN-SPORTING BOX Filed Aug. 24, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. John 4. f/opwaod April 30, 1935.

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BOTTLE TRANSPORTING BOX Filed Aug; 24, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Jo/m 14. HO/QVVOOd ATTORNEY.

Patented A r. so, 1935 UNITED STATE PATENT BOTTLE TRANSPORTING BOX John A. Hopwood, Great Neck, N. Y.

Application August 24, 1934, Serial No. 741,215 8 Claims. (01. 2117-19) This inventionrelates generally to-the art of boxes which are used in the transportation and retail delivery of milk.

Boxes of this general character have long been 5 used and generally constitute a suitable frame embodying side and end walls with an open bottom and top. A suitable support is provided across th lower portion of the frame to support bottles contained therein and the interior of said frame is divided by wooden bars, metal rods or a combination thereof into a series of compartments in which the bottles are individually received in such manner as to be free from contact with one another. This general type of box is conventional and structures embodying these features broadly have long been used. The prior boxes, however, are open to certain disadvantages which it is the object of the present invention to overcome. This invention, therefore, is directed to the production of a box of increased strength, durability and eficiency in the performance of its intended functions.

Delivery boxes for milk are, in practice, subjected to considerable hard usage and breakage is not uncommon. The box of the present invention is so constructed as to resist breakage to a large degree and its construction moreover is such that, instead of being rigid, as is generally the case, it is made relatively flexible, so that in the event it is subjected to hard knocks, it may yield or give under the impact without resulting breakage of the parts and may even be forced slightly out of shape without damage. The arrangement is such, however, that if slightly deformed as stated, it may be readily returned to its proper shape by a jar or the application of appropriate force in a counter direction and is thus well constituted for use in the traffic referred to.

Another disadvantage which is present in conventional boxes and more particularly in those embodying metal spacers or partitions, is their tendency to cause breakage of the bottles when subjected to hard knocks, and also the tendency of the metal parts to scratch the bottles. My experience with boxes of this kind has convinced me that the bottles should be held against lateral displacement by yielding elements which cushion the bottles against lateral shock and at the same time hold them properly in position. I have further observed that scratching of the bottles by such metallic parts is minimized if the bottles make line contact with said metallic parts in contradistinction to surface contacts. For example, when natural ice is used to pack the bottles in a conventional container, such ice frequently contains sand or other grit, which, as the ice melts, lodges between the walls of the bottles and the spacers. If these spacers are shaped so as to form surface contact with the bottle, the grit which lodges between said metal elements and the bottles cannot readily escape and, as the bottles are jarred and moved about, these small particles of grit act as minute cutting agents, resulting in pronounced scratching of the bottle, so as to render the same unsightly and in time unusable. Experiment, however, has shown that if the metallic parts in question make line contact with the bottles, any sand or other grit which may be present will immediately be forced away from the line of contact causing the bottle to engage with the smooth metallic surface with water lubrication, due to the presence of the ice, and, as a result, I find that scratching is minimized and practically eliminated.

Another feature of the invention, which will be hereinafter more fully explained, is the novel and efficient corner construction well adapted to permit the box to yield, but at the same time strong anddurable and suitably reinforced in a novel and efficient way to permit the parts to work or move with respect to one another while anchoring them firmly in the proper associated relation.

An important feature of this corner construction is that it is economical to manufacture and does not materially add to the weight of the box. Furthermore, it does not weaken the wooden walls of the box by interfitting joinery so commonly employed in this art.

A further feature of this invention resides in the bottom construction, i. e., that portion of the box which serves to support the weight of the bottles. In accordance with the preferred form of the invention, the bottles are supported on metallic rods which are anchored at their opposite ends in slats of increased thickness, so as to give minimum strength to the anchorages. Intermediate their ends, they are supported by transverse girders, the ends of which are upturned on the interior of the box and are received within upright seats in the sides of the box, while the upper ends of the upturned portions are perforated to receive the transverse compartment wires in such manner that the girders are suspended upon the transverse compartment wires directly adjacent the side walls of the box and on the interior thereof. Practice has shown this construction to be unusually strong and at the same time extremely economical as to manufacturing and assembly.

Certain features of this invention are adapted to boxes having metal spacers, while other features are adapted to boxes not only embodying metallic spacers, but those having therein wooden spacers.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure l is a perspective View showing a box embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmental perspective showing one corner of the box with a metal corner reinforcing member removed, so as to show the manner of interfitting the sides and end bars of the box.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the manner of fabricating one of the corner reinforcing members.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the box shown in Figure 1, this section being taken on the line i i of Figure 5. V

Figure 5 is a section substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmental perspective showing one of the anchorage plates of the partition rods.

Figure '7 is a plan view showing the intersec tion of four partition rods with associated tie plates and illustrating the manner in which these tie plates space the bottle from contact with the rods.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental section on the line 8-3 of Figure 7, showing the manner in which the tie plates resiliently engage with the bottle to protect the same from injury.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmental perspective looking downwardly into one corner of the box and illustrating the interior of the box construction. The box shown in this figure is made up of a plurality of bars superimposed on one another and formed in such manner as to give maximum strength and durability.

Figure 10 is a central section of one of the small spacers which is interposed between the several courses of bars in the side and end walls to give the desired spacing to said courses.

In its preferred practical form, the box of the present invention is substantially rectangular in for and embodies side walls i and 2 and end walls and l. These several walls are produced by superimposing upon one another a plurality or" rectangular wooden frames, and in the drawings, I have shown live of such frames for the purpose of illustration. Each frame embodies two parallel side bars and two parallel end bars, the end bars being notched as shown at 5 to receive the side bars with the butt joint and with the inner faces of each side bar bearing against a well defined shoulder 5. Beyond this notching, the bars of the side and end walls are uncut and they are not jointed in the usual manner as I have found that, when joinery is used, such, for example, as the formation of mortises and tenons, there is a pronounced wealtening of the structure through cutting away of material and that, when subjected to hard usage, splitting or breakage will occur.

The several rectangular frames are superimposed upon one another, as shown, and the corners formed as described are protected by the metallic corner angle is, shown in detail in Figure 3. This corner angle may, in practice, be made of relatively light sheet metal. I start with a piece of flat strip and bend it along its longitudinal medial line, so that the two lateral halves are arranged at 99 degrees to one another. The strip is slit along its medial line adjacent its opposite ends, as shown at l, and after the bending occurs, those portions of the strip at either side of the slit are bent successively over one another to form tongues 8, arranged at right angles to one another, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. These tongues 8 are perforated at 9 and the perforation is countersunk, so that a washer and a riveted head may be received into the countersink in order to give a substantially flush construction. One of these corner reinforcing members it is associated with each corner of the box and serves to entirely enclose the ends of the side and end cars so as to cover and conceal them and maintain them in proper associated relation. The top and bottom bars are, however, recessed at their top and bottom edges, respectively, as shown at i I to' receive the tongues 8 of the metal reinforcing members iii and the several side and end bars are bored vertically with alined holes I2 to receive tie rods i These tie rods may be of any suitable construction, but they pass successively through the bars of the superimposed frames and through the perforations 9 of the metal tongues 8. Washers are preferably slipped over the opposite ends of the rods and said rods are upset or headed by the use of appropriate machinery, so that these rods serve in effect long rivets. The riveting operation is carried out in such manner as to draw the washers l3 tightly into the countersunk holes ii and give flush upper and lower surfaces.

F thermore, the successive frames of the box are spaced apart by means of spacers 55, shown in detail in Figure 10, and having a central perforation 5%, through which the tie rods i4 extend. These rods i l thus serve several distinct and important functions; they secure the corner 'reinforcing member is to the box; they anchor the tongues firmly in position to hold the spacers E5 in proper alinement and at the same time sethe several frames of the box in proper superimposed relation. They are spaced a sufiicient distance from the corners of the box, so that when the box is subjected to shocks splitting of the bars at the ends is not apt to occur. They produce in conjunction with the corner reinforcing members iii a strong, yet sufficiently flexible construction to stand the hardest wear. For in tance, the shocks received by a box come from the outside. If a box is hit at its corner, the blow is taken directly by the associated reinforcing member 59. If one of the side bars receives a blow, this blow i not transmitted directly to the tie rods i i, but, on the contrary, is taken by the shoulder 6. If one of the end bars receives a blow from the outside, the blow is taken directly by the end of the abutting side bar. If any of the bars receive a blow from within, it is taken up directly by the metal reinforcing member i6 and the force of this blow is divided between the two associated tie bolts The structure is thus so constituted that splitting of the bars is practically eliminated.

In the manufacture of milk boxes, it is frequently desirable to facilitate their handling by machinery to provide them with appropriate runners. A novel form of runner is shown in the accompanying drawings. According to this showing, the bottom side bars are made somewhat deeper than the inside bars, so as to project below the latter and the lower edges of these side bars are faced with metal straps l, theopposite ends of which are offset as shown at it to enter the recesses ii and underlie the tongues 8. They are perforated so that when the tie bolts 14 are inserted, they pass through these metallic runners and secure them firmly in position and at the same time cover and conceal. their ends, so that there are no free ends to catch as the box passes aiong a conveyor or the like or is slid along a'floor. This mnner construction does not materially add to the cost of the box and is particularly desirable in a construction of this character.

Attention may also be called to the fact that in order to increase the strength of the box, both the sides and end bars of the top and bottom courses are made thicker than the intermediate bars which may be somewhat thinner than is generally the case, so as to divide up the weight and give the greatest strength where it is necessary without added weight. This feature is carried out in a novel manner, as hereinafter described in connection with reference to the bottle supports at the bottom of the box.

In accordance with this invention, the interior of the box is divided by appropriate partitions to provide for individual compartments for the bottles. Wooden spacers may be used and in some cases, they are, but I have chosen, for illustration, the preferred form of construction which embodies metallic spacers. Thus in the drawings, I have illustrated upper and lower spacers, all of them in the form of metal rods which extend longitudinally of and transversely across the interior of the box. The upper longitudinal spacing rods are indicated by the reference character I9, while the upper transverse spacing rods are designated 28. The lower longitudinal spacing rods are indicated at 2! and the lower transverse spacing rods are designated 22. The rods i9 and 2| are directly above one another and the rods 20 and 22 are similarly placed. They all pass through the correspond ng bars at the sides and ends of the box and to the exterior of the box where said bars are countersunk to receive washers over which therods are headed to give a flush construction.

At the points where the rods l9 and 2!; intersect one another, there is provided at each of such intersections a so-called cross tie plate. The plates which I utilize for this purpose are illustrated in detail in Figures 6-8, inclusive, and are of a novel and unique construction. They are each made of sheet metal of more or less resiliency and are generally designated by the reference character 23. Each is in the form of a stamping of substantially diamond shaped configuration. At two of theopposite points of the diamond are provided upturned lugs 24, which are perforated to permit a longitudinal partition rod to pass therethrough. At the two other corners of the diamond are formed downturned lugs 25 perforated so that a transverse partition wire may therethrough, while between the lugs 2d and 25, the straight side edges are provided with flanges 25 which are preferably turned down and are slightly rounded, as shown, so as to provide a resilient flange adapted to make contact with the bottle at a rounded edge or an edge parallel to the bottle wall, whereby the bottle will make a line or point contact with the opposed flanges of two oppositely positioned cross tie plates, as clearly shown in Figure 8. That these contacts will be of a line or point character will be apparent from Figure 7, due to the effect that geometrically the contact occurs between a circle and a tangent thereto. In view of the fact that the flanges 25 are resilient, any shock received by the box which tends to transmit a jar or jolt to the bottle will be transmitted in' a cushioned manner to the bottle and thus minimize tendency to breakage. Furthermore, as there is but a point or line contact between the bottle and the cross tie plates, it follows that dirt or grit cannot lodge between these parts and cause the bottle to be scratched. A natural pressure between said parts will simply squeeze out the grit and allow of direct contact between metal and glass which will not result in scratching as the metal is appreciably softer than the glass.

The cross tie plates thus serve to centralize the bottles within their respective compartments and at the same time provide a thoroughly satisfactory support for crushed ice which is usually packed about the necks of the bottles. I may, if desired, use metal cross tie plates of the character described at both the upper and lower partition rods, but I find in practice that their use with the upper rods is suificient and that they are not necessary on the lower rods and may thus be omitted.

The weight of the bottles is adaptedtobe borne by supporting rods 2? which extend longitudinally of the box and near the bottom thereof in parallel relation to one anothe These rods pass through the bottom end bars and are headed over on the outside of the box upon washers received in countersunk depressions to give a flush exterior to the box and securely fasten the rods in position.

It will be noted from Figures and 9 that these supporting rods 2! pass through the end bars near their lower edges, where they are of full thickness, these bars being cut away or rabbeted out at 28 above this point of attachment to lighten the construction and give more room for bottles without, however, weakening those portions of the bars which actually carry the weight of the bottles.

It will also be noted from Figure 9 that the bottom end bars are similarly cut away or rabbeted, as shown at 2B, and at spaced distances longitudinally of the box, said bars are further provided with upright seats 36 to receive the upstanding ends 3! of hanger 32. These hangers 32 are shown as three in number. They extend transversely across the interior of the box and near its bottom. The horizontal portion of each hanger is of arched cross section to give it an arch girder form and perforations 33 are provided through which the bars 2? are passed. At the ends of the arched horizontal portion 32, The stamping from which this structure is formed, has the upstanding arms 3! which are received into the seats 3d and are perforated at 34 for the passage of the lower partition rods 2'2. The parts iii and 32 of each cross member described thus collectively constitute a hanger which is wholly supported upon the adjacent lower transverse partition rod 22 and one of these hangers is associated with each of these rods. The seats (iii in the side bars preclude shifting or pivotal movement of the hangers and maintain them in predetermined positions where they will properly sustain the supporting rods 21 on which the weight of the bottles is imposed.

I wish to call particular attention to the fact that in the box of this invention, the side walls which, in the structure shown, are composed of a plurality of superimposed courses of rectangular frames, are so butted with respect to one another as stated, so that neither wall can move inward- 1y with respect to the other. This obviates the necessity of interior corner angles and thus leaves the box wholly unencumbered at its interior corners in contradistinction to those prior boxes which have a broad angle strip at these points. These strips are undesirable in practice because they form spacers for the accumulation of bacteria, sour milk, etc., which render them unsanitary and undesirable. Ihe box of this invention may be properly cleansed throughout its entire interior and there are no inaccessible places for the accumulation of dirt, sour milk or other extraneous matter and with consequent lodgment for bacteria.

Figure 9 of the drawings show the unencumbored interior corner of the box.

The foregoing detailed description setsforth the invention in its preferred practical form, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a box of the character described, a body formed from a plurality of courses of rectangular frames superimposed upon one another in spaced apart relation and each embodying side and end bars butted against one another at their respective ends, spacers between the respective courses in spaced relation to the corners of the box, a right angular metal strip enclosing each of the four corners of the box, each of said strips being provided at its opposite ends with overlapping tongues positioned at right angles to one another and occupying recesses formed in the top and bottom edges of the box, tie rods spaced from the corners of the box and extending through the several courses and through said strips and the interposed spacers for binding said courses together and simultaneously securing the metal strips in place to enclose each of the four corners of the box and cover and conceal the ends of the bars.

2. In a box of the character described, a body formed from a plurality of courses of rectangular frames superimposed upon one another in spaced apart relation and each embodying side and end bars butted against one another at their respective ends, spacers between the respective course, in spaced relation to the corners of the box, a right angular metal strip enclosing each of the four corners of the box, each of said strips being provided at its opposite ends with overlapping tongues positioned at right angles to one another and occupying recesses formed in the top and bottom edges of the box, metal runners extending along the lower edges of the bottom side bars and offset at their ends to enter the recesses therein and project beneath the associated tongues, tie rods spaced from the corners of the box and extending through the several courses and through tongues and runners and the interposed spacers for binding said courses together and simultaneously securing the metal strips and runners in place with metal strips enclosing each of the four corners of the box to cover and conceal the ends of the bars.

3. In a box of the character described, a body formed from a plurality of courses of rectangular frames superimposed upon one another in spaced apart relation, each frame embodying side and end bars butted against one another at their respective ends with the bars of the top and bot tom courses of greater thickness than the bars of the intermediate courses, and the upper portions of the bars of the bottom course being rabbeted out to give increased space for the bottles and minimize weight, spacers between the respective courses in spaced relation to the corners of the box, a right angular metal strip E11- closing each of the four corners of the box, each of said strips being provided at its opposite ends with overlapping tongues positioned at right angles to one another and occupying recesses formed in the top and bottom edges of the box, tie rods spaced from the corners of the box and extending through the several coursesand through said tongu s and the interposed spacers for binding said courses together and simultaneously securing the metal strips in place to enclose each of the four corners of the box and cover and conceal the ends of the bars, partition members for dividing the interior of the box into a plurality of compartments for individual bottles, and supporting rods extending across the box near the bottom thereof and anchored at their opposite ends in the thick portion of the lowermost frame to provide an effectual anchorage for said bars.

4. In a box of the character described, a body formed from a plurality of courses of rectangular frames superimposed upon one another in spaced apart relation, each frame embodying side and end bars butted against one another at their respective ends with the bars of the top and bottom courses of greater thickness than the bars of the intermediate courses, and the upper portions of the bars of the bottom course being rabbeted out to give increased space for the bottles and minimize weight, spacers between the respective courses in spaced relation to the corners of the box, a right angular metal strip enclosing each of the four corners of the box, each of said strips being provided at its opposite ends with overlapping tongues positioned at right angles to one another and occupying recesses formed in the top and bottom edges of the box, tie rods spaced from the corners of the box and extending through the several courses and through said tongues and the interposed spacers for binding said courses together and simultaneously securing the metal strips in place to enclose each of the four corners of the box and cover and conceal the ends of the bars, partition members for dividing the interior of the box into a plurality of compartments for individual bottles, and supporting rods extending longitudinally of the box in laterally spaced apart relation and anchored at their opposite ends in the thick portion of the lowermost end bars, and supporting girders positioned within the box and extending transversely thereof and provided with perforations through which the supporting bars extend, said supporting girders being provided at their opposite ends with upturned flanges projecting upwardly on the inside of the box and suspended upon certain of said transverse partition members.

5. In a box of the character described, a rectangular body having side walls and end walls, the opposite ends of the side and end walls being butted with respect to one another, a metallic right angular reinforcing member positioned at each corner of the box to overlie the ends of the side and end Walls and provided at its upper and lower ends with tongues which overlap one another and are received into recesses formed in the upper and lower edges of the box at the sides and ends thereof, tie rods passing through said tongues in spaced relation to the corners of the box and vertically through the side and end walls to anchor the tongues in position and secure the corner reinforcing members in position, metal runners extending along the lower edges of the side walls and oifset at their opposite ends to enter the recesses in the lower edges of the side Walls and project beneath the associated tongues to be held in place thereby, said corner reinforcing members precluding movement of the side and end walls in an outward direction, while the butting of the side and end walls with respect to one another precludes inward movement of said walls without the employment of angles interiorly of the box.

6. In a box of the character described, a rectangular body comprising opposite side walls opposite end Walls secured together at their corners, compartment wires extending longi tudinally and transversely across the interior of the box to form compartments for individual bottles, and flat tie plates mounted on and positioned between the compartment wires at their intersections, each tie plate being-substantially diamond shaped with straight sides and having upwardly and downwardly turned perforated tongues at its corners through which the compartment wires extend and each of said straight edges of the plate having a downwardly turned resilient flange for line contact engagement with the bottle.

7. In a box of the character described provided therein with longitudinal and transverse compartment wires crossing one another, tie plates positioned at the crossing of each two wires, said tie plates being interposed between the longitudinal and transverse wires and each embodying a flat resilient sheet metal plate of substantially diamond shape with substantially straight sides and provided at its corners with upwardly and downwardly turned lugs perforated for the passage of the respective wires, the straight sides of the plate having flanges curved in vertical planes and adapted for line contact with the bottle.

8. In a box of the character described, a body formed from a plurality of courses of rectangular frames superimposed upon one another in spaced apart relation and each embodying side and end bars engaging one another at their respective ends, spacers between the respective courses in spaced relation to the corners of the box, a right angular metal strip enclosing each of the four corners of the box, each of said strips being provided at its opposite ends with tongues positioned at right angles to one another and overlapping the top and bottom edges of the box, tie rods spaced from the corners of the box and extending through the several courses and through said strips and the interposed spacers for binding said courses together and simultaneously securing the metal strips in place to enclose each of the four corners of the box and cover and conceal the ends of the bars.

JOHN A. HOPWOOD. 

